Liquid-gas contact tower



- 1957 E. P. FLEMING ETAL 2,810,563

LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER Filed Dec. 31, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS[ow/m0 I? FLEMING By ROBERT E. MUSE.

ATTORNEY L 1957 E. P. FLEMING EIAL 2,

LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1955 mimimh.

in I WWW, ma w m mflo MM 0 wk Oct; 7 E. P. FLEMING ETAL 2,810,563

LIQUID-GAS coN'rAT TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 31, 1953 6 N 7%Y ETE mmwn m MH 0 wnam n 1 mm} mam Md w l! m4 w k H 5 0 a H J a a 0, m z Z 1M LIQUID-GAS CONTACT TOWER Edward P. Fleming, Los Angeles, Theodore C.Fitt, Selby,

and Robert B. Muse, Orinda, Calif., assignors to American Smeiting andRefining Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyApplication December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,583 2 Claims. (Cl. 261114)This invention relates to a sectionalized liquid-gas contact tower. Moreparticularly, it relates to a sectionalized tower comprised of lead. I r

In accordance with past practice, liquid-gas contact towers have beenused in which the walls were of rigid unitary construction which borethe weight of the tower. Where bubble cap trays were used, such trayswere attached to the tower walls and had no function in so far as wallload-bearing purposes were concerned.

In practice, the prior construction has been found to be relativelyexpensive and to involve rather complicated erection procedure.Moreover, it is necessary that a part or all of the tower proper beconstructed of high strength metal in order that the load-bearing partspossess the required mechanical strength. However, the use of such metalin the tower proper has been found to be undesirable when the tower isoperating under corrosive conditions.

For example, even when the tower proper was fabristeam of:a'n absorbentladened with sulfur dioxide, and '4 chlorine or chlorides were presentin the'system.

vantages will become apparent from the following, more detaileddescription of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in theaccompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferred. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings are given for purposesof illustration and that the invention is not limited thereto. 7

In thedrawings, Fig. 1, is an elevational view, partly in section, of aliquid-gas contact tower embodying the; invention and which is providedwith tray and bubble cap 1 assemblies.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tower of :1 v 1 in the directionof ther taken; along line 2,- -2 of Fig.

arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a tower section used inl assembling atower.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the details of thestructure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4

taken in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modified sealing means for the varioussections of the tower.

Fig. 7 is a view illustratinganother modified sealing 7 means for thevarious sections of the tower.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation view of 'a modified.

tower.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on. the line 9-9-of shown asectionalized liquid-gas contact tower designated generally bythe.numeral 10, and an open outer framework comprised of the verticalstructural members .11

which may be suitably laterally. supported by the mem- .1

bers '12. Disposed within the framework-at vertically spaced, andpreferably at uniformly vertically spaced,

intervals are a plurality of tower 'wall sections 14-20.

Applicants have attempted to take advantage of excellent corrosiveresistant qualities of lead and lead alloys by using such metal in theprior construction. It was'found that towers, especially towers of thetray and bubble captype, of a practicable size could not be conthesteel, especially 'under the variable temperature conditions existingwithin .the tower during its operation. Under thesev conditions, thecorrosive fluids leaked into the: resulting interstitial. space betweenthe metals, .corroded the: susceptible ferrous metal and resulted inexpensive, maintenance repairs and shortened operating periods as wellas reduced life of the tower. 1

The principal advantage, as well as the principal ob ject, of theinvention is' that it overcomes the abovementioned difiiculties of theprior construction. Another advantage and object is that it permits theconstruction of liquid-gas contact towers of a practicable size, and

I.t0wer. Each of the wall sections is individually supported within theframework by inwardly projecting supparticularly towersof the tray andbubble cap type, in

which the tower proper is fabricated of lead or lead alloys or ofsimilar soft, low-strength metal. A further advantagezandobject ofthe'invention is that it provides a relatively simple and cheap methodof. constructing liquidgas contact. towers. lThese 'and'other objects.and ad- Each of the wall sections is of unitary construction Eachextends around and conforms to the desired lateral perimeter of thetower and forms by itself the vertical walls of the tower for eachsections portion of the porting means 22-29 which are attached to theframework at vertically spaced intervals corresponding generally to theposition of the wall sections 14-20. For each of the resulting lateralopenings which. are peri- 1 metric of the tower between adjacentvertically spaced wall sections, there is provided separate means forsealing'the openings against fluids.

A' pluralityof curtain sections 31-37 are provided,- one for each of theperimetric space portions between immediately adjacent wall sections.=Each curtain sectionextends around the perimetric opening and issupported by one of the two wall sections immediately adjacent eachcurtain'section in fluid tight relationship to the supportingwallsection; Each such curtain section'also extends adjacent to the otherofthe adjacent wall sections and is vertically yieldably sealedtherewith against'fiu id s. Each curtain section thereby forms a towerwall extension for p which supports the individually supported wallsection the particular curtain section.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, there isshown a circular tray andbubble cap type of tower embodying the invention. I The tower proper isfabricated of a soft; corrosion-resistant metal such as lead orlead-base alloys. ,The open framework formed by the members 11 and 121is fabricated of a high strength metal such as,:for example, a ferrousmetal such as. steel; and inwardly pro.- jecting supports 22-29 areannular angle ringsalso fabri' cated of the same or similar highstrength metaL'HThe" a r g m y. beta t hed to the. vertical. membe 1.1a:

Patented Oct. 22, 1957 V in its broader aspects.

" sweet sreesg uieieby :seeraiag s higa ieaeeesenig eaeseicy rer ot metewer and the vertical-lhgtfifidf the will secctei si- In generaig tlrewail s'e'fctions are abeiiu r asiiaeires thtelh v and th'e'verticallen'gtli oi ea'h' section may be aboiit 4 -12- ine1res andgenerallyabout 6 ineh h'eir vertie extension. The bottom of each of th=wt'ill sections 1 fi- 20 rest's upon tlie top surface of the-antiularst'ippdrts zz zw respeetivety so that -'eaclidf tli ;wall seen =isindividual-1y :supperted in its desired positin the framework.

Eaefi of the intei inediate wall setidtis lsdlfi betvifeen the top waliseetioni'n andxtlie bbttom wan seetien zw have integrally formedtherewith a horizontal tray por tion 42/; Each ofthese tray-portionsis-provided wit h a plurality of openings 43 adapted to receivw ga's vi-vapor: riser pipes..- The to'p wall section 14 and the bdttom-wallsection 20 are provided withtray?portions" f4 and 45 re= spear-relywhihzarie without riser pi e o enings and form top and bottom closuresrespectivelyfor the tower.- T'h'ehorizontal portions 42;, 44 a'nd 45'are preferably relatively thin as compared to=thethickness of their resp'eotive' wall sectionsi Generally,:these'horizontal portioni 'each ofthe wall sections--20 constitutes a horizontal tray having a thickdownwardly-depending towerwall-forming Zfla-nge.

Vapor riser pipes 46 'of conventional design m'ay be supported in' theopenings' 43"of the interrnediate trays in any.- suitable manner; forexample byat-tach'ing therei'n with'welding. The bubble-caps 47,:alsoolf conventional design; may be supported over the risefpipes in'anysuit ablemann'er, for example by welding to"the horizontal tray portions42. Each-of the intermediate trays is also provided with a-down pipe'48. i

In operation,.vapor or. gases contact liquids ism-e"- tower in'aconventional manner.v Thus, a;liqiiidwhich maybe introduced through thetop of thetower through. inlet 49, passesdownwardly-through thetowef-from tray to tray throughthe down pipes 48- 'and then-leaves thetower through the outlet 50-. A quantity of'fiuid is re tained omeach'tray'to-a depth regulated bythe-pos'itiornof the. top'ofeach o'fthedown pipes-'48. Gasor-yap'or m'ay beintroducedthrough inlet 51; passingupwardly: throughthe tower and leaving: the- 'towerthrou'glr outlet 52.In

itsi-upward passage, the'gaspasses fronitray-to-tra'y, ris- 1ingaupwardly through the' riser-apipes 46-.1- -It then reverses" itsdirection, I passing downwardly through? the annulus between the riserpipes and-the"buhble-caps-.- it again reverses its direction, passingaround the bottom df the bubble cap aan'di then passes upwardlythroughthe liquid retained on eaeh of the trays-,:-thusmaking-"a seriesofintimate'cont-acts with theliquid as the gasipasses-through rthe-tower.

Each of the wallsections-1440may'be prOVidedwith a support grid 53attached'tothe inside surface of the wall and to thebottom-ofthehorizontal tray portion ofeach wall'section'. Preferably;each grid is integrally formed with theside-wall and tray portiontowhich itlends support. Preferably also, the grids extend radiallyfromthe center of the tray portionof eachtray, as shown in.--Fig-.- 2. Thesupporting gridsarean importantfeature in towers fabricated of a-softmaterial, especially in tray and-bubble captype towers,as-towersoflarger diameter than would otherwise bepossible can be constructed by"their use.

The curtain sections-have substantially no load-bearing 1 functioniotherthan to' -be able to --ca'rryrtheir-' own weight;-They,-Jtherefore;i;mayr be thin as compared 'to the wall 4. 1" and-4;the curtain-seetions- 3-1-37- dependdownwardly from and are attached toand supported by the top wall section 14 and intermediatewall sections15-1? respectivelythere being no depending curtain from the lowermostwall section 20. V

As is shown in Figs. 1 aud 4yeach of the wall sections 14-19 may beprovided with-anannular recess 54 extending around its lower insideedge. The dimensions of each -si1eh--ree':'e"ss*=riay' besuoli astoreceive the u pper arties of curtaih -wtill with the inside surface ofthe curtain wallflush'witlrthe'insidesurface of'the waneetion above therecess in the manner 'sh'own particularly in Fig.4. Each-of the curtainsmaybe attaehedand the'h'otto'm 'of the chrtain' wi'tmwhicli it i s"associated, by

theweldirig' 59. Thelow'e'r edge 'of the'sealing' stiip may be states anaaschea' te me tray" immediately below the curt-ain by' tiieweldingfi'tll For" greatest convenience in assembling. the sectionaltower; theseal-ing' s'trips' are disposd mitwaidly of their respectiveoilr'tiins wifl'l the' bottom edge of the strip 'a'ttach'ed to-the topof the wall' sectioii below the curtain" and adjacent to the-outsideperimeter of the latter wall, as illustrated most clearly" in 'Figs. and5; "the thin strips"; due'fto their arcuate faring-ate verticallyyieldable" and provide a yieldable' seal-which; up'on e'Xpa-nsion andcontr'ac'tion of the tower;

is not broken; 2

"In the space eneleseuby 'ea'clfof the'sealingstrips there mj'ay bedisposed an annular-curtain support ring :61; Each such ring may beattached'to the top-of' the Wall section which is immediatelybelowe'acli cui'tain by the" welding 62; -Each ofi the curtain stipportrings-61*are' disposed, as shown, outwardly of and adjacent tothec'un'tain which the ring' supports; Ea'ch support rin'g extends a vertically"abovftlie l'c'rvv'er edge of -th'e' curtain-with wliieh it isassociatedaii'clftlziereby 'liiriits the outward mo'tion of-' tli'eciirt-ain? In general. theuse of the support rin'gi' tdgetherw'ith theareuate' seating' ring is'" preferred espe prferred construe'ti'on; the'ring fl'may be p'rovided with di'a'in holes 153 which: permit liquid"which may collect in Insteadofusing the ar'cuate 1 sealing strip 58'illirtstrated i in Figs. l, 2; -4 and 5,-fl the' modified forms shown in-Figs. 6 and 7 maybe used, especiallyin smalltowers-to-procation of Fig.6; the overlappiiigportions of the down-- wardly depending curtains,represented in thisfigure by: the curtain 32; and the support ring-61sli'dably engage each other 'so-that the support' ring function'sbo'tli'as a 7 seal and-support'for the curtain.

the recess. In this modification, each curtain represented by' numeral32, instead of being attached to, may merely rest upon, the top of thetray (represented by numeral 16), below it.

The present construction may also be used for towers other than the trayand bubble cap type, including packed towers or spray towers. Figs. 8and 9 illustrate such a modification in which the tower is aspray tower.As shown in these figures, the tower is similar to that of Fig. 1 exceptthat the intermediate wall sections, represented by the numerals 70 and71 in Fig. 8, between the top wall-closure section 14 and the bottomwall-closure section 20 are not provided with the horizontal trayportion 42, the riser pipe 46, the bubble caps 47 or the down pipes 48.These intermediate wall sections may be, and preferably are, providedwith support grids 53, especially where the tower is fabricated of asoft metal.

Liquid is introduced at the top of the tower of Fig. 8 through thesprinkler pipes 72 and falls as a free-falling spray to the bottomsection 20 from which it is withdrawn from the tower through outlet 50.Gases which are to contact the liquid enter the tower through inlet 51,passing upwardly through the tower and the liquid spray therein andleave through gas outlet 52. In the modified tower, the individual wallsections preferably are also provided with the arcuate sealing strip 58.As illustrated in Fig. 8, curtain support rings need not be used (andthis is also true for the tower of Fig. 1) although such rings may beprovided if desired. The modification of Figs. 6 and 7 may also be usedin the tower of Fig. 8 to seal the perimetric openings between each ofthe curtain sections and the wall sections immediately above and beloweach curtain.

As indicated earlier, the invention is most useful for towers composedof metal of low mechanical strength, such as lead or lead base alloys.It is particularly useful for towers of the tray and bubble cap type.For best results, an antimonial lead alloy containing about 6-12% andpreferably about 10% of antimony is used for the individually supportedwall sections and the grids therefor. Antimonial lead alloys containingantimony in this range are preferred as it has been found that anantimony content below about 6% results in an alloy that is unduly soft,while antimony contents above 12% results in an alloy which is undulybrittle. Antimonial lead alloys containing 6-12% antimony are alsopreferred for the trays, flanges and grids in a tray and bubble cap typeof tower. The rest of the tower, including any one or more of thewelding connections, curtain walls, sealing means, support rings for thecurtain walls and, where used, bubble caps, riser pipes, or down pipesmay also be fabricated of these alloys or other lead alloys includingordinary lead. The open outer framework and the inwardly projectingsupports attached thereto may be fabricated of any high strength metalwhich preferably is a ferrous metal such as steel.

Preparatory to assembling a tower embodying the invention, each of thewall sections 14-20 preferably is individually cast. Where used, therecess 54, the grid 53 and the horizontal tray portion with the vaporriser holes as required, are cast with the wall sections as an integralpart of each wall section. The wall section intended to be the lowermostwall and closure section may then have attached to its top a curtainsupport ring, if such a ring is to be used. As no curtain is suspendedfrom the bottom of this lowermost wall and closure section, no curtainreceiving recess need be provided in it. The intermediate wall sectionsmay be individually assembled as illustrated in Fig. 3. As illustratedin this figure, each wall section, represented by the numeral 16, hasits curtain section, represented by the numeral 33, suitably attached inthe recess 54 by the weldings 55 and 56. A curtain supporting ring 61,where used, is welded to the top of each wall section with the welding62. The

down pipe 48, vapor riser pipes 46 and the bubble caps 47, also whereused are likewise suitably attached by welding. The upper wall andclosure section 14 may also be pre-assembled with its curtain 31suitably attached by welding. No curtain sealing ring need be attachedto the top of section 14 regardless of whether or not such rings areused with the other wall sections 15-20.

In assembling the tower, the open outer framework represented by thenumerals 11 and 12, is first erected. The wall support 29 may then beattached to the framework, after which the lowermost wall section 20 maythen be lowered through the top of the framework until the bottom ofthis wall section rests upon the support 29. If desired, the support 29may be attached to the framework after the wall section 20 has beenlowered to its intended position .in the framework. Thereafter, ifarcuate sealing strips 58 are to be used, the lowermost sealing strip 73(see Fig. 1), fabricated either as a one-piece ring or a split ring, islowered through the top of the framework and is allowed to rest looselyon the top of wall section 20. The next support 28 is then loweredthrough the top of the framework to its desired position therein. Thesupport 28 may then be attached to the framework. The next intermediatewall section 19, assembled as illustrated in Fig. 3, is then loweredthrough the top of the framework to its position resting upon thesupport28. During the last stage of its lowering, the lower edge of thecurtain 37 which is attached to the wall section 19, is carefullyinserted through the upper edge of the sealing strip 73.

The above steps for attaching the other wall supports, sealing rings andintermediate wall section units may be repeated for each of the wallsupports 27-22 and the wall section units 18-14 until all of the wallsections are positioned in the framework.' The lower and upper edges ofeach of the sealing strips may be welded respectively to the top of thewall section and adjacent the bottom of the curtain with which theparticular strip is associated, after each section is inserted in theframework or after all of the sections have been inserted. The fluidinlet and outlets may be connected to the tower and the tower is thenready for operation,

It should then be noted that each of the arcuate sealing strips, whenthey are used, may be multi-sectional in form rather than in the onepiece or split ring form. In the multi-sectional form, the sealing ringsmay be attached in position at any time after the wall section withwhich a particular ring is associated has been positioned in the tower.This may be accomplished by inserting the individual section of eachstrip through the open sides of the framework. The wall supports 2229may likewise be multi-sectional and may or may not extend around theentire perimeter of the tower. Such section supports may also beinserted through the sides of the framework and attached thereto aftereach wall section has been lowered to its intended position in theframework. In such event, each of the arcuate sealing strips may bewelded either to the curtain or the top of the wall section with whichthe particular curtain is to be associated before the wall section islowered into the framework. The unattached edge of the sealing strip maythen be attached at any time after its particular wall section is inposition in the tower.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Thus, forexample, instead of being circular in cross-section, the towers may havea rectangular or other polygonal cross-sectional shape. It is,therefore, desired that the present embodiments be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tower for treating corrosive fluids, an open outer towersupporting framework, a plurality of vertically spaced thick wallsections disposed within said framework, each of said wall sectionsforming the lateral perimeter of ,lthe tower. and the vertical walls ofthe, towel-"for. the particular. section s portion. ofthe-.toweninwardly projecting .and vertically. unyieldable support-meansattached to said framework-for each :wallsection, the base of. each wallsection restingsupon its respective unyieldable support means, wherebythe wall sectionsare, supported within said framework in fixed spacedvertical relationship to the framework and to each other with the top ofeach wall section spaced from the bottom of thewall section immediatelyabove it, the uppermost and lowermost sections including end wallsforming top and bottom closures for said tower, said wall sectionsbeingfabricated of antimonial lead containing about 6-12% antimony,separate sealing .means fabricated. of lead for each of the perimetricopenings between adjacent wall sections. forming a yieldable sealagainst fluids for said openings, liquid inlet and outlet means for saidtower, andgas inlet and outlet means for said tower, whereby thegasandliquidmay. be brought into intimate contact .in said tower, eachofthe wall sections thereby being free to expand and contractindependently, and each :wall section being'free of the weight of.adjacent wallsections and the weight of. the rest ofthetower,-regardless of expansion and contraction of any part of the tower.

2. A tower according to claim. 1, each of said .wall .sections having asupporting grid which is encompassed. by the wall section, each saidgridalso being fabricated. of said antimonial lead, said separate sealingmeans comprising a thin lead curtain section depending downwardly fromand extending around the, inside perimeter of -.t-he uppermost andintermediate-wall sections, each :of .said curtains also extendingdownwardly and terminating close to but out of contact with the top ofthe wall section immediately therebelow, each of the said intermediatewall sections and :the lowermost-wall section having on the, top

thereof a,. iurt'ainsupport member fabricated of leadand whichextends.arounduthe top ofthew'all section adjacent the'latters perimeter andwhich also extends upwardly aboventhe, lower. edge. oi the.curtaindepending from ,the wallvsectioneimmediately thereabove, eachofsuch curtain support members being"positionedibetween the outsideperimetenbf the wall section to which itflis attached andthe-.-outside,;surface "of .t-hencurtain with which itis associated,.QIIierebyJimiting theoutward motion of the curtainiwall whenthe latter,is subjected to pressure on its inner 'suriaee and ayieldableleadsealing strip of arcuate fo'rrnri'n Yer'ticaLsection for each.of-said curtains, each suchsealing stripgextending around the curtainsperimeter andbeingfdis'posed outwardly. of the-curtain and theassociated curtain support, each suchsealing strip being attached at itsupper edgejo thecurtainperimeter adjacent the curtainsllbottomedgelbub'abovefthe top of the curtains support, the lower edge ofeaqhJsuch sealing strip beinglatta'ched adjacent the.outside perimeterof the wall section which isi-immediatelybelowthe curtain section.

. "ReferencesCited'in "the fileof this patent t'L -NITED .STATES,PATENTS ,-GreataBritain Aug. 30,

